Brazilian tax structure: an analysis of its impacts on income distribution

Abstract

The article analyzes, by using data from the Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (Household Budget Survey – POF) 2017-2018, the impact of the tax policy on income concentration in ten Brazilian states. This work aims to contribute to the debate on taxation and inequality from the hypothesis that inequality indicators may be explained by the regressivity of the tax system. To gauge regressivity and its impact on income distribution, measured by the Lerman-Yitzhaki and Gini indices, the methodology employed by Silveira and Pintos-Payeras is used. The results indicated both regressivity and the increase of inequality in all states. Given the Brazilian economic stagnation and the imminent global economic recession, structural aspects of income concentration in Brazil may accentuate poverty and inequality rates. It is understood that the tax system is an integral part of such persistent structural aspects and this is the reason why this work proposes a tax reform of a progressive nature.